Ladder attachment



7, 1 R. H. LUNDGREN 2,870,948

- LADDER ATTACHMENT Filed April 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IO 20 2| a V// %//////////fl INVENTOR. ROBERT H. LUNDG-REN JWM ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1959 R. H. LUNDGREN 2,370,948

LADDER ATTACHMENT Filed April 27, 1955 INVENTOR. ROBERT H. LUNDGREiN ATTORNEY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O This invention is concerned with an improved ladder attachment for permitting stabilization of a ladder by its connection .to an elongated object and is more particularly directed to a ladder which may be utilized to secure the upper end of the ladder to any elongated object irrespective of its angle of departure from the vertical.

In most situations where a long ladder is employed, the

safety of the person on the ladder demands that several people hold the base of the ladder to stabilize it. This waste of manpower is avoided, to some extent, when the man working on the ladder uses a rope to secure the top end of the ladder to some elongated object, such as a pole or pipe. However, when this is done it is still necessary for men to stabilize the lower end of the ladder for some time while the man working above secures it, and similarly, valuable time is lost when the top of the ladder is on fastened and resecured every time the ladder is moved.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an attachment for ladders which will make them more stable and, therefore, more safe.

It is a more particular object of this invention to pro vide a ladder attachment whereby the top of the ladder may be secured quickly to any elongated object.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the type described which may be easily attached to any ladder regardless of its dimensions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment as described which may be secured to any.

elongated object against which'the top of the ladder rests, regardless of the angle at which the elongated object and the ladder intersect.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. I

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a suitable chain pipe vise mounted for use as my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of my invention employed in securing a ladder to a pole;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form of 2,870,948 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 pipe vise frame which may be in the shape of either a hollow disc or preferably a rectangular or oblong receptacle. Mounted on the top side of the frame 10 are two jaws 11 and a pair of lugs 12 as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Extending between the lugs 12 and secured thereto is a pin 13 perpendicular to the jaws 11. On the inside of the top of the frame 10 are two lugs 14 with a pin 15 extending between and secured to them. Pivotally mounted on the pin 15 is an arm 16. The arm 16 is bent to extend upward through a port'in the frame 10, and its end 17 which protrudes above the frame10 is bent into the shape of a double hook for grasping the chain. The other end 18 of the arm 16 contains an elongated slot 19, as illustrated, through whichjextends a bolt 20 which pivotally secures the arm 16 to a member 21. Extending from the top of the frame 10 is a short rod 22 through which, and the frame 10 below it, is drilled a hole. A threaded shaft 23 extends through the holes in the rod 22 and the top of frame 10 and the corresponding hole in the bottom of frame 10. The top portion of shaft 23 is enlarged through which is bored a hole at right angles to the axis of the shaft. A lever 25 of the type used in a machinists vise extends through this hole. Obviously other types of levers could be used such as a .pivotally mounted lever. As another alternative this enlarged portion could be square shape in which case it could be turned by means of an ordinary wrench. The lower portion of shaft 23 is secured to the frame 10 by means of the locknut 24. The member 21 is internally threaded to receive the threaded shaft 23. The bottom of the frame 10 is rotatably securedto adisc 26 by a bolt 27. The head of the bolt 27 which is outside theframe 10, is contained in a recess 28 in the disc 26. The side of the disc 26 remote from the frame 10 is welded to a member 29. The end link of a chain 30 is secured to the pin 13.

In the formof my invention illustrated in Fig.2, 32 designates a conventional ladder, tothe top of which are attached .two extensions 33. The extensions 33 are hollow shells which slide over the ends of side rails of the ladder and are provided with grooves 34 which permit the extensions 33 to slide down the side rails beyond the top rung of the ladder. A hole 35 is provided through the base of each of the extensions 33 so that the extensions 33 may be secured to the ladder 32 by screws. Extending between the extensions 33, and secured thereto by nuts 36, is a metal rod 37 which corresponds to the member 29 in Fig. 1. When the ladder 32 is erected against a pole 38, the jaws 11 of the chain pipe vise rest against the pole 38, and the chain 31 is wrapped around the pole 38 and secured to the hook 17 as illustrated in Fig. l. The lever 25 is then turned so that the member 21 is raised on the shaft 23. As the member 21 is raised, the arm 16 is pivoted about the pin 15 so that the hook 17 is pulled down, tightening the chain 30 around the pole 38. The pipe vise is so maintained, securing the ladder to the pole until it is desirable to move the ladder when the wrench 25 is rotated to lower the member 21 and loosen the chain 30.

In the form of my invention, illustrated in Fig. 3, the extensions 33 are employed in the same way they were in the form of Fig. 2. Here, however, a rectangular metal bar 39 is bolted to the extensions 33 by bolts 40 which pass through slots 41 in the bar 39.. The frame 10 of the chain pipe vise illustrated in Fig. 1 is bolted directly to the bar 39. The disc 26 shown in Fig. 1 may be employed for further strength if it is desirable to weld the bar 39 to the disc 26. Because it is desirable to have both the jaws 11 in contact with the pole 38, the bar 39 is given a slight bend at 42 to allow for the average inclination at which the ladder is placed against the pole. The chain pipe vise in this form of my invention is secured to the pole in the same way as it was in the form ICC 3 illustrated-aim Fig. 2.. This form of my invention may also be used without the extensions 33. If the extensions 33 were not employed, the bar 39 would be bolted directly to the side of the ladder.

Theform ofamyv invention-illustrated in Fig. 4 cornprises the.chainpipe vise of Fig. 1 and a section of pipe 43'cut axially. The convex side of the pipe section 43 is welded tothe disc 26 of the pipe vise in Fig. 1 and corresponds to the member 29. The concave side of the pipe section is held against the top rung of the ladder and secured theretoby two U bolts 44. Preferably, the concave side of the pipe section 43, while being fabricated, is machined with criss-cross grooves so that it will better grip the rung of the ladder. This .form of my invention isadaptedto besecured toa poleor pipe just as are the forms describedabove.

Alltheforms of myinvention are adapted to be secured to anypipewhich passes the endof. the ladder in the planeof the pipe vise, since the .pipejvise canbe rotated about,.the .bolt.27.. Furthermore, the-.forms.il1ustrated in Figs, 2 and 4 are adaptedtoibesecured to any pipe whichpasses the end of the ladder because the rod 37 in Fig. 2 may berotated in the holes in the extensions 33, andthe form illustrated in Fig. 4 may; be rotated about the ladder rung to which it is secured.

My invention provides awnew attachment whereby the top of a ladder may-be. secured to any elongated object against which the ladder is placed. The only limit governing the maximum size of the elongatedobject to which the attachment can, be secured is the lengthof the chain on the chain pipe=vise.' By. using along enough chain, myinvention -may. beemployed" to secure a ladder to any. object.

Whemmy invention is made outof a light metal, it may .be employed on: any ladder without appreciably increasing'itsaweight; My invention-is simple to use and will very rapidly secure a ladder to a pole, pipe, or the like.-.

Other modes 015 applying the--principle of the invention maybe employed, change'beingmadeas regards the-details described, providedthe feature stated in the following claim-or:the-equivalent of such be" employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out'and' distinctly claim as my invention:

An attachment for securing one end of a ladder to a post or the like, comprising a hollow housing having one side thereof pivotally secured to one end of the ladder for motion about a first axis parallel to the rungs of said ladder and for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said first axis, a serrated jaw secured on the opposite side of the housing and shaped to engage one side of the post, a chain having one'end pivotally. secured to said opposite side of the housingadjacent one end of the jaw and being of a length to encircle thepost, a lever pivotally secured in the housing to move in a plane parallel with the jaw, one end of said lever being bent to extend out through an opening in said oppositeside of the housing adjacent the end of the jaw opposite the first-mentioned end and having hooks formed thereon outwardly of the housing to engage the chain when the chain encircles the post, an-internally.threaded membeipivotally secured to the opposite end of said lever-within: thehousing, and a threaded shaft rotatably secured 'inthe housing. in a fixed longitudinal position ataright angleto said lever and jaw and extending through said member in threaded engagement with said member, only one end of saidshaft being extended through one side of the housing and being shaped to facilitate turning of'said shaft, whereby said member is moved along said shaft to-pivot said lever and tighten the chain.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED-STATES PATENTS 732,759 Long July 7, 1903' 1,054,665 Amborn Mar. 4, 1913 1,658,191 Gravning Feb. 7, 1928 1,911,538 Thewes May 3Q, 1933 1,950,965 Blackburn Mar. l3, 1934 1,964,067 Lea-eh June 26, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,874 Sweden Dec. 6, 1949 137,889 Great Britain Ia'nI 29, 1920 375,022 Germany May 5,' 1923 

